Twisted Wedge|
Twisted Pod|
Twisted Arch,
Wrought iron,
1996. Secrest
refines and
manipulates
metal to create
intuitive shapes
that comment
on the clash of
old and new
technologies,
industrial
processes and the refinement of raw materials
from one form to another. These wrought iron
sculptures, mounted together on a single base,
use the process of forging and shaping to create
three related forms.

18 Rudy Autio

Grizz, Cast bronze, 1968. This
5,000-pound bronze was a project of the UM
Foundation, and represents the traditional
symbol of the University of Montana. Autio was
the founder of the UM ceramics department, and
served as head of the department and professor
for twenty-eight years. Autio completed a
series of ceramic and plaster maquettes before
scaling these up to the final work. The sculpture
was placed prominently at the head of the
Oval on “Grizzly Circle”and dedicated during
Homecoming 1969.

15
Michael

Osborne

Paleozoic I,
Ceramic, 1990.
Osborne is a UM
alumnus. The
completion of this
Campus Art Award
outdoor sculpture
commission
coincided with
Osborne’s MFA
thesis exhibition
Cathedrals. This
sculpture refers to geological changes impacted
by environmental factors such as wind and
rain over time. Osborne’s intention was that the
opening near the top of the sculpture be used as
an oculus. It lines up with the face of the clock
on Main Hall, evoking a sundial and the passage
of time.

Constellation, Ceramic tile and bronze mural,
2000. This work was commissioned under the
Montana Arts Council’s Percent for Art Program.
Warnock, a professor at the University of Idaho in
Pocatello, and Delgado, a studio artist based in
Los Angeles, have collaborated to create several
murals. This one integrates Warnock’s cut bronze
with Delgado’s airbrush over silkscreen glazed
tiles to reflect both artists’ interests in communitybased public art.

17

23
Robert
Gehrke

Flight Column,
Cor-Ten steel, 1996.
This work was
commissioned for the
Gallagher Business
Building under
the Montana Arts
Council’s Percent for
Art Program. This use
of a pillar to celebrate
a political or military
victory hearkens back
to Roman triumphal
columns. Instead
of commemorating
public events,
this sculpture is a
monument to the
natural world, calling
the viewer’s attention
to the sky, birds and
flight.

Persistence, Brushed stainless steel,
1976. Waddell is a Montana native from Laurel.
While he is best known for paintings with thick
impasto surfaces depicting ranch scenes, he
also created a group of distinct metal sculptures
while on the UM School of Art faculty from 1968
to 1976. During this time he lived in Arlee and
created a series of minimalist-influenced polished
steel sculptures.

44
Terrence J.
Maureen and Mike
Mansfield, Cast
bronze, 1999. This work
was commissioned by
UM alumni Magnus
and Velma Aasheim.
Murphy reflected that
the qualities of, “honor
and integrity [will] guide my depiction of Mike
Mansfield. From my personal remembrance
of this man and his works on behalf of the
people of the State of Montana and the people
of the United States, the word honorable is the
depiction in bronze I envision. It [is] my desire to
depict Maureen Mansfield in a loving manner on
a level of partnership with her husband…Mike
credited her with all the success that he achieved,
especially in his political career.”

Humus, Wrought iron,
1996. Secrest works in
welded steel, wrought
iron and sand cast
bronze. He describes
his process as where
“the practical meets
the esoteric.” He
develops forms from
his subconscious and
experiments with the
structure of metal to create patterned surfaces. In
1996, Secrest completed a series of commissions
across the UM campus referencing natural and
industrial processes. With Humus, his intention
was to create a work that would accumulate dirt,
leaves and pine needles to appear as part of the
earth. In soil science, humus refers to organic
matter that has reached a point of stability, where
it will not further decompose.